1. Drivers must have and present, upon request, a valid state driver’s license.

2. No one under 18 years of age may be in the pit or participate as a driver.

3. Derby will be 1980 model and later cars only.

4. Members of the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club are not eligible to drive, own or sponsor derby entries.

5. Entries are taken on a first come, first served basis. Entry fee must be paid upon arrival. Entry fees are non-refundable.

6. There will be 30 slots available.

7. Entry fee is $50.00 and includes two (2) pit passes. Additional pit passes may be purchased for $20.00 each. Due to insurance regulations, no one under 16 years of age is permitted in the pit area.

8. Driver may enter more than one car but can advance only one car to the feature.

9. Each driver, each member of the driver's pit crew, and each person purchasing entry into pit and/or controlled area must sign a waiver relieving the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club and the Middle Tennessee District Fair, and any other partnering entities of any liability arising out of any act or omission regarding the event.

10. Cars must be removed from the fairgrounds by noon on the day following the derby. Cars not removed by this time become the property of the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club and will be removed at entrants’ expense.

11.. Heats will be assigned by drawing when the car clears technical inspection.

12. A mandatory drivers’ meeting will be held at 6:15 pm each event night at a location to be announced. Any late rule changes or additions will be covered at this meeting.

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

1. 80 & newer cars only! 03 newer Fords/Mercury cars must have factory aluminum cradles. For the purpose of these rules, any mention of cars also applies to station wagons.

2. The inspection line will open at 3:00 PM and cars need to be inspected as soon as possible. If you are not in the inspection line by 5:30 you are subject to being automatically assigned the 3rd heat to allow for proper inspection. Once your car has been inspected and approved by Judges the car will be impounded. Inspection times will be appointed upon arrival and once in the impound area no alterations to the vehicle will be allowed. Violations of missing appointed inspection time or making alterations after inspection without the permission of Derby Judge will result in disqualification. Drivers must be present to sign release form.

3. For the safety of all participants, vehicle bodies must remain in stock condition (as built by the manufacture). All glass, trim and moulding must be removed. Pre-bending is allowed but judge will use discretion of safety. NO wedged cars will be allowed to run. Do not get too excessive with Pre-bending. Folding and welding of the body is NOT allowed and you will not get a chance to fix, instant disqualification. Engines of equal size may be substituted. No electric fans for engine cooling.

4. Doors may be chained, wired, or welded. No doubling of body panels. Driver’s door may be welded solid for drivers safety with 3” wide 1/8” thick strapping max. All other doors can be welded 6 on 6 off. 6 on 6 off = weld 6” and skip 6”. NOTICE: Driver’s door impacts will not be tolerated. TWO STRIKES YOU’RE OUT!Trunks can be chained, wired, or welded. If welded, 6 on 6 off. 3” wide 1/8” strapping max. Must have a 10” hole cut in trunk lid for inspection purposes. Back window bars are allowed but must not be welded or attached to trunk lid.

5. Hood must be open during inspection, the hood must be secured with a maximum total of 4 bolts ½” diameter, along with all thread in core support. Total of 6 attachment points in hood. Note: retaining washers will not exceed 4” inches in diameter and 1/8 inch in thickness. The forward two bolts in the hood and two bolts in the trunk (1 inch max all thread ) should extend to a solid portion of the frame (body mount hole). A 12” inch piece of 3/8” chain may be substituted —two for the hood and two for the trunk. No wire is allowed. Remaining bolts must secure only to adjacent fenders. Two pieces of angle iron per side (1/8 thick, 6 inch long) may be used to aid in mounting/bolting hood to fenders. (5) 3/8 bolts max per each wheel well.

6. A minimum of ten-inch diameter hole must be cut into hood to provide access for fire protection.

7. For driver’s safety, optional cages may be installed. A 4 point cage is suggested for safety. Cages or-exterior door bars will be allowed, but not both. If used, cage material diameter must not exceed 4 inch diameter. Vehicle may have a roll bar, it may be interior or exterior built, but cannot give any added support to vehicle in any way except for safety reasons. There must be 8 inches clearance from the front bar of the cage to the firewall. If used, door bars may not extend more than8 inches past the “front door” jam seam. Door bars must be at least 6 inches off floor/rocker panel. Padding may be added as needed for driver safety. No kickers/braces running from cage to frame for reinforcement will be allowed. No wire from cage to any part of car frame or sheet metal allowed. The only wire you may use is if you decide to wire doors/trunk lid in place of welding or in place of chain on humps (see rule #11). No wire on any other part of car.

8. Radiator must be in stock position. No homemade radiators. Do not move core support or core support mount. Core support spacer may be welded to either frame mount OR core support, not both. If factory core support mount has been moved from factory location or has appearance of cutting/re-welding you will be loaded.

9. Bumpers must be in their stock position and will be measured for height at the strong part of the bumper. Bumpers may be loaded, no homemade bumpers, must be a factory style bumper. The bumper height may be no greater than 24” inches tall and no lower than 16” inches. Hard nosing is allowed, bumper can be welded straight to the frame. 3/8” thick plate max if using plate to aid in mounting bumper, nothing excessive and must be welded straight to end of frame with bumper welded/bolted to plate. Frame may be shortened to mount bumper, but must not go past factory body mount hole or core/radiator support. If using bumper shocks to mount bumper, shocks used must be factory for that make/model. Pre-run cars are NOT exempt to the bumpers height rule. Optional bumper height will be in discretion of Judges.

10. No bumper hitches or supporting frame work will be allowed. No chains allowed around bumper to retain bumper or hood.

11. Any automotive rear end allowed. Axles may be braced but not to strengthen car in any way. Vehicles with WATTS’s link style suspension (98-up Ford/Mercury) may use (weld/bolt) older style (OEM) upper link mount and may weld tab to frame to mount lower rear links. Do not get excessive with fab or welding. No leaf spring conversions. Rear end can be chained or wired to rear humps. If welded, 2 links max to frame.

12. 80s up Ford/Lincoln/Mercurys only, can be tilted by cutting/slicing the factory tabs and then re-welding with a single pass of weld only. Do not weld on crush boxes!

80s GM sedans and station wagons only, will be allowed 22”x 6”x ¼” hump plates. Can be ran straight across arch or contoured with arch. Must be on wheel/tire side of frame. Excessive welding will get you disqualified!! Do not run plate straight across base of hump close to rear-end, must not come in contact with rear or brace at any time.

13. No hub caps, no valve-stem protectors, no bead locks, no tire protector.

14. Drivers must war an ANSI/DOT approved crash helmet with full face protection provided or approved eye protection.

15. Cars may have up to two (2) 1” steel rods or equivalent size tubing extending from the top of the roof to the cowl/firewall for driver protection.

16. Front suspension can be solid, welded with (2) 2x3x1/4 straps per a-arm. One strap on front and one on back of each a-arm. If this rule is abused or anything welded other than specifically stated you will cut everything and run with working suspension or load car. Aftermarket tie rods are allowed or factory tie rods may have a max ½” rod or similar brace welded directly to tie rod.

17. Vehicles may use a slip shaft/telescopic driveshaft. Cross members must be oem style cross member OR 2x2 square tubing max. One piece 6” long angle max no bigger than 3x3 may be used on each side of cross member to aid in mounting. Do not get excessive; simply weld single pass to frame with factory amount of bolts bolting cross member to angle.

18. Gas tank must be removed and replaced with an outboard motor tank (or equivalent) to be located in the rear of the driver’s compartment. Fuel cells highly recommended, and should be covered securely with rubber in case of leakage. Cage may have a protector around tank, but must be only for fuel cell protection and not strengthen car. Gas tank protector should have nothing attaching to sheet metal or frame in any way, no bolts or welds.

19. Radiators may have a maximum of two (2) Nylon ratchet straps or wire to help secure. No Spray Foam Insulation will be allowed to secure radiator assembly in place. Radiator must be in stock location. Trans cooler are allowed but must be approved and covered for safety. NO ELECTRIC FANS FOR ENGINE COOLING.

20. Off road tires may be used. No snow/traction studs installed. Air in tires only, no solid tires or flat proof. No valve stem protectors or bead locks.

21. NO ALL BLACK cars, vehicles must be painted with minimum of 60/40 split of colors. Cars must have a number on door/roof and must be easy to be seen. In case of duplicate numbers, judges will assign a new number which must be painted on each door. No obscene or off color decoration will be allowed. A safety attached 1 foot by 2 foot sheet metal plate with car number or sponsor may be mounted on the top center of the car. Derby officials will inspect and approve mounting for safety. NO PAINTING/OILING/UNDERCOATING OF FRAME! If frame has been painted or tampered with and has appearance of trying to hide something you will be loaded and forfeit your entry.

22. The battery must be relocated to the front passenger compartment and secured to prevent spillage or tipping over, and must have a rubber or plastic cover.

23. The driver’s seat must have a minimum two-point seat belt/harness, which must be used whenever the car and driver are on the track. Backseats and other items must be removed from the car interior, and additional padding may be added for driver safety. Floors must be cleaned and free of trash and glass.

24. No welding (other than what is specifically stated) will be allowed. Pre ran cars are allowed up to 4 patch plates 4x4x1/4” but must have visible bend. This does not mean that you can put pre ran body on fresh frame and get 4 patch plates. Don’t push this rule. If no visible bend can be detected you will cut ALL plates off or load your car with no refund. No fluids of any kind—transmission, water etc. – will be allowed with the driver. If the frame of the car has been beefed up, added to, or strengthened in any manner the car will be disqualified from running and the entry fee will be forfeited.

25. NO removal of OEM body bushings except to install front and rear all thread. In case of broken/rusty/missing body bolt a 1/2 inch diameter bolt may be used to repair. Drivers will be allowed to add up to (4) ½” diameter body bolts. Extra body bolts must have body bushing between frame and body. Extra body bolts can be welded to side of frame with 4” x ½” wide weld. If it does not state it in the rules, DO NOT consider the alteration legal without calling and asking first.

26. Gears in rear ends may and should be welded for positive traction.

27. One piece of chain ½” (maximum link diameter) x 12” maximum length, may be added to secure engine to frame at both motor mounts (one chain per side). Lower Cradles only are allowed, but no cradles and chains. No mid plates, distributor protectors, or header protectors allowed. Pulley protectors are permitted but not with sway bar. Pulley Protector OR sway bar, not both.

29. Cars found to be in violation of any of these rules may be corrected and presented again for inspection prior to the beginning of the first heat. Failure to make required corrections by this time (unless authorized by the judges) will result in disqualification and entry fee will be forfeited.

30. IMPORTANT – once a car has been inspected and allowed into the pit/impound area nothing else may be altered on the car. Anyone caught adding any reinforcements will be disqualified and entry fee will be forfeited.

31. Prize money for winning cars will be awarded only after final inspection of said vehicles. Any violation of vehicle requirements will mean immediate disqualification and remaining vehicles will move up one place in the final standings.

32. Any disqualification of an entry for a violation of these rules will result in a forfeiture of the car’s entry fee.